Starter Guide to Solo Travel
Oh gosh, where to even begin. If you’re here, that means there’s a good chance you either have not started solo travelling and are thinking about it, or some other reason I hope this post provides guidance for. Below are some main points I have found to be at the core of a solo travel experience and I hope this encourages you to take that leap. As cheesy as it sounds, putting yourself out of your comfort zone and making yourself uncomfortable will make you grow much quicker than sticking to the same routine. Nothing wrong with routine, but I find getting out of that rut regularly gives me the needed reset to keep moving forward.
Only you can know if you will enjoy solo travelling
Can you do it? Sure, anyone can “do” anything, but the main question is if you will enjoy it. But if it is something you have been thinking about, I think there is a good chance you will also enjoy it as it is in your conscience. If you are a very dependent person on others, I can’t say you won’t enjoy it, but you need to feel comfortable and confident in deciding your day, every day.
You need to be comfortable being alone
Yes, you meet people along your travels, but there are periods of time it is just you. I enjoy my own company and I think that plays a major factor in me enjoying my experiences. You won’t always have another person to lean on or share an experience with and accepting that you are content on your own makes travelling solo much more enjoyable. I will say the time the “aloneness” feels the most is eating at a restaurant. Without another person to talk to while waiting for and eating your meal can become tiresome, but it is part of the ride.
Another note is this is why I like staying in hostels. It is much easier to meet people to go with on excursions than when staying in an AirBnb or hotel solo. Even if you are not down for the dorm hostel experience, most also have private rooms so you have extra privacy and security, but can still experience the social aspect of the hostels. I use Hostelworld for all my bookings and I find the reviews give good indicators if it is a party hostel, a digital nomad one, a social one, etc.
Start small and local
If you do not want to take the leap to another country, start within your area or country. What is that place you have never gone to and you can’t believe because it is so close by? Starting small can give you a taste of being solo to know if you will enjoy a longer and more extensive trip
Start with a country that speaks the same language
This might seem obvious, but maybe don’t bite off more than you can chew. Language barriers are one of the biggest obstacles when travelling, so when starting off on your own you do not want to add any unnecessary challenges to your travels.
Have the first few days planned out
I prefer not to plan my whole trip out since more often than not you discover different things on recommendations from others that you hadn’t thought of. However, having your first few days planned helps ease the worry. When I’m flying somewhere, I always at the very least know when I’m arriving, what transportation I’m taking, and where I am going. Travel days are exhausting and having this sorted ahead of time saves unnecessary stress upon arrival
Have a general outline of where you want to go
While keeping your plans open, I usually have a general guide of where I want to go. The other nice thing about not planning too far in advance is when you arrive somewhere, you may find you need more or less time than originally planned. If you had everything booked to a T, you may either waste time in an area that is not your favorite, or not have enough time somewhere you love. Having a general guide also makes sure you hit all the places that are “must visits” on your list.
Figure out your preferred transportation method before your trip
I would not say it is necessarily the hardest part about travelling, but modes of transportation can get confusing and I like knowing how I will get around the country beforehand. Sometimes it is a backpacker bus, but mostly it is regular busses, and I find it comforting to research ahead of time which bus companies/routes to take as there are usually so many options. Also, I liked to weight time vs cost. A domestic flight might be more expensive, but it sure saves a lot of time and more comfortable than sitting on a bus all day.
When it comes to safety, common sense is key
I have never felt particularly unsafe throughout my travels, but a lot of that comes with sticking to the safety precautions that I practice back home. Be careful in how much information you share with people and keep answers vague. Try not to mention you are travelling alone, don’t mention where you are staying (or if you do, just the general area), and don’t walk alone at night. Every country will be a little different in terms of safety, so it is important to do your research. In one country it might be the safe thing to always take taxis at night, but in other countries taxis may be sketchy and another mode of transport is better.
Book that flight!
It’s time to take the leap and go for it! What is the worst that can happen? You hate it? Okay, well then now you know you don’t enjoy travelling solo. But, I highly doubt this will be the outcome. I think more than likely you will surprise yourself and enjoy the experience more than you realized and the experience will only add to other aspects of your life in what you can achieve.
On a final note, the world is not this big scary place to fear. Yes, it is big, but holding yourself back by obsessing what could go wrong is limiting the amount of genuine, wholesome experiences this world has to offer. I hope you take the leap, and enjoy the life that is waiting for you in places and people you couldn’t imagine.